Page 16 - SYTYGIB: Ancient Rome

Aside from being stared at by masks of dead relatives, what else did kids in Roman families get up to? In most cases, it was whatever their dad told them to do . . .
The thing is, if your dad decided you had to do something, you SeRiOuSlY had to do it. That’s because the oldest male of the household – which was usually the father – had cOmPlEtE PoWeR over the family.
He was known as the paterfamilias and he decided eVeRyThInG. He could even arrange the marriages of his family members . . . and for girls that could be at a young age.
Where's my wine?!
Son, how was school?
Stop chewing that toy!
The paterfamilias (why not try calling your dad that from now on?) could be a very strict keeper of discipline. Physical punishments could be imposed for being cHeEkY, bad behaviour or any kind of disobedience – even for poor schoolwork.
12